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Molly Cowan-Johnson.
AnonymousA former professor of mine, Robert Marks, wrote a book a few years back (which he had some seniors, myself included, help him edit) called the Origins of the Modern World. I highly recommend it. It traces Europe's rise to dominance from a "non-Eurocentric" point of view. The story begins with the Chinese removing their fleet from the Indian Ocean allowing the Portuguese to take over trade routes in that ocean and the rest is history...
AnonymousIn the bargain section of Barnes and Noble (Encino), I found a bunch of beautifully illustrated large-format books on the terra cotta army of the first Qin Emperor. What makes this book especially great for elementary school classrooms is that each page contains a big jigsaw puzzle of a photo from the museum housing the warriors in Xi'an. The book also contains a lot of material about the discovery and restoration of the warriors, as well as their original purpose and means of construction. The book is under $15. Check the "Bargain History" section. Similar puzzle books also exist for the Italian Renaissance and Ancient Egypt.
AnonymousAlthough I did not see the movie, I do want to point out that the movie was a very "Hollywoodized" version of the book. The image of the actress in her kimono was not authentic--she was made to look very sensual and sexy. When she was dressed in her kimono, the way she was dressed was not dressed "correctly." When she performed her Japanese dance as part of her entertainment, the dance was not an authentic dance--it was modified to appeal to the American audience. The reason I know this is because the consultant was a member of the Japanese classical dance world of which I am familiar, and her suggestions and advice were overridden in favor of the appeal that it would have on the American movie viewer. I guess that's show business. As far as the question of prostitution, geisha were considered professional entertainers who had to study different cultural arts such as Japanese dance, tea ceremony, classical music (playing the shamisen and singing) because their role was to entertain wealthy and influential men. I've read that in the mid-1600s. geisha were considered to be elegant models of good taste, but in the 1700s, this changed. While some geisha still practiced their arts in good taste, many others lived either in special districts or on their own and prostitution was part of their business, in addition to their arts. Others, on the other hand, were not considered the true geisha because they were not culturally trained, but were simply prostitutes. So there were different classifications and levels of geisha. Some politicians even today have a geisha, sometimes a high-ranking one, as part of his "standing." [Edit by="willoughbyak on Mar 16, 9:03:37 PM"][/Edit]
AnonymousI've always been a big sci-fi/fantasy book reader, so I was intriuged by a series I saw at B&N called "The Guin Saga". It was described as a top Japanese epic saga with over 100 installments thus far. The First book "The Leopard Mask" introduces the main characters, the twin child regents Rinda and Remus, and the hero Guin.
I was not entirely impressed by this first novel, and probably will not read another. The style of writing (or at least the translation), plot, dialouge...really everything...was pretty primitive as the sci-fi/fantasy genre goes. It really reminded me of the John Carter books by Edgar Rice Burroughs; very straightforeward plot, hack and slash action, the lone hero in a forigen world (except reversed, the hero is not human, the world is), so on.
The novel did make me wonder about the cultural signifigance of twins, leopards, and masks. I am also curious about the description of the twins. The twins are light skinned with platinum hair (no mention of albino type eyes though), what could be the signifigance of that? Any thoughts from others on any of those topics?
AnonymousOldboy is definately not a film for the classroom. I saw this film at a friend's house, and was absolutely floored by its level of intensity. This is a revenge thriller suspense type movie whose core revolves around an almost universal cultural taboo (I don't want to spoil it so I won't get into this). I will describe the first 20 minutes or so of the film in general terms to give you a general idea of the plot, but you HAVE to see this movie if its you're type of film.
The story begins with a pair of drunk businessman. One reminds the other that its his daughter's birthday, so they stumble over to a payphone to make a sloppy drunken happy birthday to the daughter he should have been with that night. The father says happy birthday, and buddy asks to get on the phone to give his well wishes. When the buddy turns around to pass the phone back, the father is gone. Completely and uttlerly gone.
The father wakes up in a nicely appointed and sized motel room...and the door is locked. He is there for 15 years. He goes through cycles of lucidity and insanity, and is occasionally sleep gassed when he becomes too violent, or sometimes for no reason at all.
15 years later he wakes up in a tight, dark space, and bursts out to find himself on a high rise rooftop, packed into a large suitcase, dressed in a suit, holding a cellphone, with the knowledge that he has 5 days to find out who did it to him, and why.
Completely mind blowing and "Saw" like in its violence and intensity at times, this film will keep your teeth grinding, and your butt at the edge of the seat.[Edit by="mvhudnall on Mar 19, 11:53:33 AM"][/Edit]
AnonymousAnyone interested in introducing the topics of Manga and Anime to the classroom should check out the extras section of the Animatrix DVD. This was a DVD of Matrix inspired animated short films released sometime after the second or third matrix movie. There is a section that contains a 20min film on the history of Anime and Manga in Japan that is extremely interesting, and great for the classroom. Theres only one hitch. You have to record it to a tape or another source and edit out about 10 seconds worth of film that discusses how there are manga that are focused on almost any interest or lifestyle, including some racier ones. I have edited the film and used it in class with great results. Students are always interested to learn how the appearance and animation style was influenced by western standards, and the budget limitations of their local production studios.
Oh, I almost forgot to mention. This video is also GREAT because it brings up the fact that Japan is the first and only post-nuculear apocolyptic culture in the world, and that its culture since world war two heavily reflects this. Check out the film Akira for a great example of this, and as an intro to the Anime genre.[Edit by="mvhudnall on Mar 19, 12:06:32 PM"][/Edit]
AnonymousI finally rented Ang Lee's "Lust Caution" that was in the theatres a few months ago. Although the original was rated NC 17, at Blockbusters they only rent out the rated R version. Blockbusters is a family video store and does not carry anything beyond rated R movies. Either way, I thought the movie was great. From what I heard, the movie sounded pornographic. Maybe it was because I rented the tamed down rated R version, but I saw the film as risque but definitely not that. Either way, the story line held up through the entire film. I'm not a film expert or even close. I know what I like and what I dont like. I liked the film a lot. Gong Li was also an amazing actress.
AnonymousI rented this film thinking that it might be one I could show my 11th grade high school kids. I could definitely show them part of it and explain the rest, but the R rating is for a few sexual scenes that definitely are not appropriate.
The film is from a Korean writer and director and won awards at Sundance and the Toronto film festivals. It definitely deserved them. The film is said to be a Buddhist fable. The lessons it shows through the narrative definitely are Buddhist in origin, but have a lot to say about humanity in general.
The part of the film I would show my class and use as part of a lesson would be the beginning "Spring" where a young boy is living with a Buddhist priest/healer. The boy is a typical child who is prone to mischief in his discovery of the world. He finds it humorous to tie stones to various animals and see them struggle. He ties one to a fish, a frog, and a snake. The priest sees him do this and patiently thinks of a way to teach the boy a lesson about his actions. While the boy sleeps, he ties a heavy rock to his back. He tells the boy he must free the animals from the stones. If any of them have died, he will carry around the stone around in his heart forever. Both the fish and the snake had died. They boy cried.
I would stop the film there and talk about the literal and metaphorical meanings of the scene. I'd have the students talk about humanity's obligation to the natural world. What is our moral imperative regarding nature? I'd also have them discuss what the stones metaphorically mean. What boulders do we carry around with us through life? How can we loosen ourselves from their weight? What would it mean to free ourselves? How do we help others? Should we help others or is it their life path of discovery that must set them free?
The rest of the movie is a great lesson in the Buddhist idea of freeing oneself of earthly attachments. The priest tells the boy that the awakening of lust in one's heart leads to the awakening of murderous intentions. Sure enough the boy runs away with his new lover, ends up killing her when she has an affair, and goes to jail. The priest helps the boy when he returns by helping to set him free of his anger. The boy, now a man, takes the place of the priest when the priest dies and is entrusted with a young boy of his own to raise.
The title is obviously a reference to the cyclical continuum of life. As we go through our own life, what burdens do we carry? How do we release ourselves from them?
An excellent film worth seeing!
Anonymous...but it's a book tells you to change your diet and dramatically reduce the risk of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and obesity.
but why China Study? đ Maybe we should find it out ourselves....
Here's the book introdution from the website http://www.thechinastudy.com/about.html
"What do 100,000 readers know that you don't? Learn more about this best selling, ground-breaking book, embraced by thousands who want to improve their health and their lives. Summarily ignored by the mainstream media, the ground-swell support speaks volumes about the importance of this provocative and timely book by Dr. T. Colin Campbell and Thomas M. Campbell II.
The science is clear. The results are unmistakable.
Change your diet and dramatically reduce the risk of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and obesity."
AnonymousWhat are some of the suggestions in the book?
AnonymousI loved the movie "Lust, Caution". Interestingly enough, the sex was key to the storyline--what a girl "has to do" or "is forced to do" for a cause. All the men use her to achieve their goals--even men that really love her.
AnonymousSome Terra Cotta Warriors are coming to the Bower Museum in Santa Ana for a special exhibit. The exhibit opens mid May and runs for several months. I'm going in May. I'll post a review after I visit.
AnonymousThis is the novel that doesn't stay on the shelf in my 9th grade English classroom. "American Born Chinese" by Gene Luen Yang is such a hit that students cluster around it almost everyday. Many have read it during Friday's Outside Reading day when they finish their required Outside Reading BOok. I considering teaching it next year along with a unit on Asian literature which I am developing for my USC/China class. I recommended it to a teacher that teachs a high school class called The Graphic Novel. He is adding "American Born Chinese" to the curriculum that includes Maus.
I read "American Born Chinese" on an airplane and the stranger sitting next to me couldn't stop reading over my shoulder. The books is addicting.
AnonymousWatch Kung fu, enjoy the Chinese music and Chinese painting, laugh at the same time, you can get all these just in one movie----KUNG FU PANDA
Enthusiastic, big and a little clumsy, Po is the biggest fan of Kung Fu aroundâŚwhich doesnât exactly come in handy while working every day in his familyâs noodle shop. Unexpectedly chosen to fulfill an ancient prophecy, Poâs dreams become reality when he joins the world of Kung Fu and studies alongside his idolsâthe legendary fighters Tigress, Crane, Mantis, Viper and Monkeyâunder the leadership of their guru, Master Shifu. But before they know it, the vengeful and treacherous snow leopard Tai Lung is headed their way, and itâs up to Po to defend everyone from the oncoming threat. Can he turn his dreams of becoming a Kung Fu master into reality? Po puts his heart - and his girth - into the task, and the unlikely hero ultimately finds that his greatest weaknesses turn out to be his greatest strengths.
Comedy
Rating: Not yet rated
In Theatres: June 6th, 2008
Mark Osborne, John Stevenson (dir.)
Jack Black
Dustin Hoffman
Angelina Jolie
Jackie Chan
Lucy Liu
(the above information is from comesoon.net)
http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=11931
The trailer can be find:
http://www.kungfupanda.com/
AnonymousWomen in Asia: restoring women to history
By Barbara N. Ramusack, Sharon Sievers
Published 1999
Indiana University Press
266 pages
ISBN:0253212677
......
In childhood a woman should be under her father's control, in youth under her husband's, and when her husband is dead, under her sons'. She should not have independence." Instead, she must follow the âthree submissions.âIn childhood a woman should be under her father's control, in youth under her husband's, and when her husband is dead, under her sons'. She should not have independence. .....